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The hotel industry is notoriously one of the most competitive, as both big chains and small independent hotels have been competing with online travel agencies (OTAs) for a long time, and more recently have begun competing with Google’s own assets.<\/p>\n
OTAs are seen as a necessary evil for some hotels that list with them due to the massive amounts of traffic they receive, but many smaller hotels can’t afford the fees these sites demand. Fortunately, there are a few things that hotel marketers can do to drive organic visibility<\/a>\u2014as well as traffic and conversions\u2014for their own websites.<\/p>\n In 2016, Think with Google published a study that outlines four micro-moments on a traveller’s decision-making journey:<\/p>\n Travel micro-moments start when people begin dreaming of a trip, and they continue all the way through the long-awaited trip itself. One key implication for hotel marketers is that even before people are considering where to stay, they are exploring destinations and ideas with no firm plans. At this stage, they are looking for inspiration, and 82% haven’t chosen the accommodation provider they want to book with<\/a>. That’s where creating great local content can set one hotel apart from the rest.<\/p>\n While the price is important, people make travel decisions based more on their hearts than their wallets\u2014choosing their vacations for activities and experiences rather than what will cost the least. Whether it’s for business or leisure, people will choose their accommodation based on the fit with the experience they are trying to have, rather than the other way around. So, it’s imperative for hotels to highlight the location of the property and proximity to some of the area’s top attractions, whether those are beaches and scenic hikes or business centres and restaurants.<\/p>\n Having extensive knowledge of the local area around your hotel is an important factor in convincing travel shoppers that your hotel is the best option to meet their needs.<\/p>\n According to a study by Expedia, 78% of travellers said information content from destinations or travel brands can influence their decision-making process<\/a>. On top of that, a Google study indicates that 67% of travellers are more likely to book with a travel brand that provides relevant information for the destinations they’re interested in.<\/p>\n So, at the very least, every hotel website should have a page dedicated to the local area. Whether it’s called “things to do”, “explore”, or something else, it should highlight the top attractions in the area in order to increase the relevancy of your hotel and its association with the geographical area. Compile a list of the best places to eat, sporting venues, movie theatres, shopping malls, and other points of interest around town. And don’t just promote the most popular things to do\u2014include your own recommendations too; tips that only a local would know.<\/p>\n Hotel website aside, Instagram and other social networks offer another great opportunity for hotels to show off their local expertise. Did you know that 54% of leisure travellers say that pictures of a destination are important when choosing where to go<\/a>? There’s no better opportunity for hotels to get in front of travellers in the early stages of their decision-making journey than to show off their local area visually.<\/li>\n \n Get exclusive insights into digital Let’s talk about micro-moments<\/h2>\n
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How to drive more hotel bookings with local content<\/h2>\n
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Show off your local expertise<\/h3>\n
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